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184 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
a certaine disposition of some members fittest for that
purpose; nevertheless, they hid us range our selves
unto a hrutish situation and disposition, as most
effectuall:
— moreferarum,
Quadrupedumque magis ritu, plerumque putantur
Concipere uxoies: quia sic loca sumet e possunt,
Pectoribus positis, sublatis semma lumbis, 1
And reject those indiscreet and insolent motions
which women have so luxuriously found out, as hurtfull
: conforming them to the example and use of
beasts of their sex, as more modest and considerate.
Nam mulier prohibet se concipere atque repugnat,
Clumbus ipsa viri Venerem si lata letiattct)
Atque exossato cict omni pectorejluctus,
Eyicit entm sulci recta regione viaque
Vomerem, atque has avettit seminis ictum.²
If it be justice to give every one his due, beasts which
serve, love, and defend their benefactors, pursue and
outrage strangers, and such as offend them, by so doing
they represent some shew of our justice, as also in
reserving a high kinde of equality in dispensing of
what they have to their young ones. Touching friendship,
without all comparison, they professe it more
lively and shew it more constantly than men. Hircanus,
a dog of Lysimachus the King, his master being dead,
without eating or drinking, would never come from off
his bed, and when the dead corps was removed thence
he followed it, and lastly flung himself into the fire
where his master was burned. As did also the dogge
of one called Pyrrhus, who after he was dead would
never budge from his masters couch, and when he was
removed suffered himselfe to be carried away with him,
and at last flung himselfe into the fire wherein his
master was consumed. There are certaine inclinations
of affection which, without counsell of reason, arise
sometimes in us, proceeding of a casuall temerity,
which some call sympathie: beasts as wel as men are
1 LUCR. 1. iv. 1256. ² LUCR. 1. iv. 1260.